“Mokana is Mokana. You would count them as there is one Mokona and there is two Mokona and then you would stop. There are only two.” Sora recollected the lines from the anime..

The woman’s eyebrows were raised high up – it was as if Sora stole her lines.

“I have seen this skeleton before…” The black mokona said, seeing that his mistress was too shocked to introduce the skeleton to them.

“Yes…isn’t he the one we brought from below?” The white one asked.

“Is he the one? What is he doing here?” The black one asked.

“Yes, that what I would like to know as well, Kuro. What is an adventurer doing here?” The woman asked as calm as ever.

The other three in the room were shocked.

“Adventurer?” Kuro asked.

“Where mistress?” The white Mokona shouted.

The two Mokona followed their mistress’s gaze which fell on Sora.

“Me?” Sora asked in disbelief. “I am a skeleton-monster…how can I be an adventurer?” Sora pretended. He lied because he didn’t know if adventurers were welcomed in here or not.

“There is no need to pretend adventurer. I have the all-seeing eyes.” The woman said as she pointed to her red eyes with her thin finger.

“Making you omniscient?” Sora asked cautiously – he just needed to confirm.

“Omniscient?” The woman began laughing – very much like Yuko the anime character. She was laughing so hard, she had to clutch her stomach because it began hurting. She wiped tears on the corner of her eyes as she finally calmed down.

“I can only discern the truth with these and nothing more than that. Did my sister call me omniscient?” The woman asked. "Hohohoho..."

“Pardon me but who are you?” Sora asked.

“You do not know of me? Did my sister make no mention of me? My name is Mizuki.”

On hearing the name the ears of the two Mokana shot up – Sora took notice of that.

“That is an alias isn’t it?” Sora asked in a monotonous voice.

“Hohohohoh! How did you guess?” Mizuki asked.

“Because with just a name and your birthday, your past and future are lost? Or something like that....” Sora replied.

Mizuki began laughing harder. “Are you sure you aren’t the omniscient one?”

“…” Sora chose to stay quiet. He could read the sarcastic undertone in those words.

After Mizuki finally stopped laughing, she turned her attention to the black Mokana, Kuro.

“Kuro, where did you get him from?”

“He was eaten by the worm.” Kuro replied in a chirpy voice.

“I see and you assumed he somehow fell down there.”

“Ahuh.” Kuro nodded.

“Well, that could have indeed been the case. It wouldn’t be the first time a monster would have wandered to the lower floors.”

“Ahuh.” Both Mokanas nodded.

“Now, then adventurer skeleton, now that the mystery of your origin has been cleared up why don’t you share your story with me. I always love a good story, especially, one which involves my sister’s whereabouts.”

“She stays in my world…and has become a screen writer for dramas.” Sora lied without hesitation. What else could he say?

“Well that isn’t very surprising.” Mizuki said as she puffed her pipe thoughtfully. “She did have talent in writing….well as long as she is happy wherever she is….”

Sora couldn’t believe his luck – she bought that? That was the most random lie Sora could come up with. He didn’t think it would work so smoothly. He didn’t expect the reply to be accepted so easily – not when the other party can tell lies from truth. This was suspiciously too easy. Sora didn’t trust this woman one bit.

“For this information, let me grant you one wish.” Mizuki said. As she removed the pipe from mouth, stood up and walked over to Sora.

“No need…” Sora informed her.

“Ho? You have no wish? There are so many who have endless wishes. Yet, you have none?” Mizuki asked, she didn’t expect Sora to be so quick to turn down her offer.

“I have none.” Sora replied. He viewed Mizuki as a troublesome being. Being involved with her would only bring misfortune and chaos in his life – why Sora thought like that only Sora would know.

“Are you certain? Maybe there is something you are looking for?” Mizuki hinted as if she were already aware of Sora’s lost item.

Sora glanced up at her – was she really not omniscient?

“Or maybe you are in need for some gift to help you with the burden you carry?” Mizuki suggested.

- Too suspicious. Sora was now certain that this woman could not be trusted. She was hinting at things which she could not have possibly known unless she was omniscient.

“Or perhaps there is a little girl in need of your help?” Mizuki continued to suggest in a playful voice.

Sora froze at the mention of the little girl. – Does she have Ai?

“You can keep her!” Sora replied coolly. Why is everyone so interested in possessing Ai? As far as Sora was concerned Ai was nothing more than trouble; a mountain of trouble.

“Are you certain?” Mizuki asked as her eyes revealed delight in Sora’s answer. Mizuki was certainly eager to have Ai – after all she had manipulated Ai into offering to help Mizuki.

Fortunately, Sora was quick to catch on – Mizuki was a bit too happy to have Ai. First, the vampire and now Yuko’s twin…once can be coincidence but twice?

“Why? How is that child of any use to you?” Sora asked without hesitation.

“Do you not know?” Mizuki asked with a smile – almost as if she knew Sora did not know and was happy to point out Sora’s ignorance.

“Know what?”

“That she is a dredger?”

“A Dredger?” Sora asked with a confusion written all his face. Sora seemed to recollect one of the soldiers in Feladonia had called him that …but what the heck is a dredger?

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Author's Note:

1. This chapter is dedicated to teenreader!

2. Woooot! 100 favourites! >.< How awesome is that!